YouTube Connect to challenge Pericope, Facebook Live

Live streaming is the future of video, at least according to tech giants like Amazon (Twitch), Twitter (Periscope) and Facebook (Facebook Live). Now, Google may be getting in on the action with an upcoming app called YouTube Connect.

YouTube Connect is currently in development and set to launch on both Android and iOS later this year, according to VentureBeat. Similar to Periscope and Facebook Live, the new service will let you quickly stream video from your phone and includes chat and tagging features. Setup requires a Google or YouTube login. The option to share on Facebook and Twitter is apparently still missing from the app. YouTube Connect will include a feed of videos from friends and channels you follow. There’s also an option to save streams in the app for viewing later.

Live streaming is an obvious move for YouTube, especially as competitors such as Facebook and Snapchat continue to grow their own video platforms. Google actually offers a similar service already, but it’s currently limited to verified accounts in good standing. YouTube Connect could help bring live streaming to the masses.